Life saving apparatus for aviators



July 4, 1933. c. L. TIBBALS ET AL LIFE SAVING APPARATUS FOR AVIATORS Filed Oct. 14, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1933- c. L. TIBBALS ET AL 1,916,345

LIFE SAVING APPARATUS FOR AVIATORS Filed Oct. 14, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 4, 1 933 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlce CLARENCE LOUIS TIBBALSAND FRANK MILLABD HOBSON, OF WASHINGTON,

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA LEE SAVING AEPABATUS FOB AVIATORS Application filed October 14; 1929. Serial No. 399,570.

Our invention relates to new and useful life saving apparatus to be worn by aviators and passengers in air craft, enabling them, 1n cases of crashes over water, to maintain nor- ;5 mal respiration until such a time as they can disengage themselves from the wreckage and rise to the surface.

The invention also affords protection from drowning of persons who may be entrapped 1 in aeroplanes, which, through accident, may fall and sink under thesur ace of the water, until the craft can be'raised to the surface. or until the persons are 'extricated from the entangled wreckage either with or without 1 assistance from the surface, by affording a means of respiration during their submergence and providing a buoyant device whereby, after extrication, they may ascend to the surface and remain afloat. The apparatus also permits normal respiration to be mam tained bywearers who, through accident or intent, may be required to abandon aer oplanes over waterf by parachute, which in landing in water, quently enfolds and en- 2 5 tangles the erson to such an extent as to endangerhis ife until he disengages himself from the entanglement and casts off the parachute harness.

' The illustrated and preferred embodiment of the invention is applicable to submergence with and emergence from crashing and sinking aeroplanes and enfolding parachutes or to entrance and stays in spaces filled with toxic or vitiated air as over battle fields or .to descents and ascents for miscellaneous purposes below the surface. of the water. The device can be worn simultaneously with aeroplane parachutes but its satisfactoryoperation is independent. of the parachute irre- 0 spective of the open or closed position of the latter. i a

Before describing the apparatus the conditions attendant on accidental crashing of aircraft on the'water and their sinking below the f surface will be briefly stated. Aircraft, especiallythe types that are designed to ascend from or land upon the surface of the water, or to be launched from catapult-s or' from long runways aboard ship, have difliculty at times in attaining the velocity necessary 'forsuccessful ascent; also in rough seas, or

from-other causes, such craft inv attempting to land upon the surface of the water sometimes damage their pontoons; causing them to fill with water. Under such conditions the 56 planes will become over-balanced and tip forward, nosing under the water, and sinking before the plot, crew and passengers can extricate themselves from ,the planes. Also, there are frequent cases in which aircraft acto cidentally fall from more or less greatheights, when operating over water, the craft frequently being wrecked as it plunges beneath the surface of the water.

It is well known that under the above mentioned conditions, the force of the impact of a plane on the water maybe of such as to cause the wings to collapse and cover the cockpit, and prevent egress from the cockpit until such time as the wings have been re- "(0 moved or an opening made through the fab 'ric. Also under such conditions the fittings,

struts and wire controls-are very likely to become damaged and disarranged, entanglmg the occupants-below the surface. The requent fatalities that have already occurred from such causes are indicative of the improbability of the sustenance of life of the occupants sufficiently long to enable rescue from the surface, or to extricate themselves and rise to the surface unless they are equipped with apparatus which will adequately fulfill their respiratory re uirements under the varying pressure eon itions of descent into the water .or when remaining 'under water at a stationary depth; maintain normal respiration under water while disentangling themselves from wreckage; maintam normal resp1rat1on while ascending to the surface and PIOVlde a means of remaining-afloat without physical exertion of swimthe parachute in its closed position as well as its open position when the occupants abandon the craft in mid-air and to be worn without interference with the movements of the pilot, crew and assengers in the performance oftheir varlous duties attendant on the operation of the craft and its controlling equipment. Heretofore, there has been no known development of a device that will fulfill these requirements and our device will.

The wearer may supply himself with respiratory air when submerged in water and maintain the supply at the rate required to maintain equalization of pressure within the apparatus and the wearer s body and the increasing Water pressure attendant on descent of the craft through the water and to maintain this equilibrium of internal and external pressures after the plane comes to rest on the bottom.

The device provides a suflicient quantity of respiratory air to maintain life of persons submerged in water over prolonged periods in fallen aircraft, without encumbering the wearer with the excessive weight of the large respiratory air containers which would otherwise be required.

The apparatus may be worn independently or simultaneously with an aircraft parachute without interference with the functions of either and at the same time provide a means whereby the wearer may inflate the reservoir with a respirable supply of air during his descent through the air, and maintain his normal respiration even though he may be enveloped by the parachute or entangled in its harness after landing in water.

The device is buoyant, will support the body of a parachute operator, when landing in water, and hold his head out of the water in cases where he is entangled in the parachute harness and the parachute is carried along the surface for considerable distances and at varying speeds by the wind.

The wearer may also be supplied with respiratory air in such manner that normal respiration is safely maintained regardless of the surrounding abnormal and varying conditions of external pressure to which he is subjected.

The device will also supply means for nor mal respiration for occupants of aircraft at altitudes where low external pressures otherwise prevent normal respiration.

In conjunction with fireproof clothing, the device will furnish a respiratory supply of air to persons who may be occupants of aircraft burning in mid-air or who may become entangled in the wreckage of burning and fallen aircraft, until they can be extricated.

The device is small, light and easily-adjusted, can be easily operated by inexperienced persons and will supply them with respirable air for entrance into spaces containing toxic, obnoxious gases or vitiated air.

The apparatus will also furnish a respirable supply of air to persons in descending, and staying for certain periods under water and ascending without outside assistance to the surface such as may be required for miscellaneous diving work.

Referring to the drawings, in which like parts are similarly designed:

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section of the device;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section of the chemical container;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the snap valve;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line 55 of Fig. 4.

The apparatus consists of a broad belt consisting of an inflatable bag made in two sections 1 and 2. Section 1 is a reservoir for exhaled air and for a supply for a short period of pure air or oxygen obtained from .an oxygen or compressed air flask 3. Section 2 is a reservoir from which the wearer 1s supplied with pure or respirable air for sustained respiration under all conditions. An air oxygen or compressed air inlet 4 is provided with a check valve whereby a respirable supply of gasmay be obtained from an extraneous source such as the oxygen flasks forming part of the high altitude apgaratus with which airplanes are provided. oth sections are provided with bellows, walled bottoms as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 1. Section 1 contains a canister or con tainer 5 for holding a chemical which absorbs CO Sections 1 and 2 are connected together at the canister nozzle 6 which pass through a web of rubber or rubber fabric web 80 connecting the two portions 1 and 2. At the canister end of section 1 there is an offset or depression 7 the purpose of which will be described later in connection with the canister and its operation. Sections 1 and 2 when connected form a continuous inflatable reservoir the ends of which are provided with loops or buckles 8, or straps 9 which permit adjustment of the belt around the bod of the wearer. belt,

Between the ends of the the top is extended upwardly at 10 at the back of the belt. Likewise and near each end of each section of the belt at the top are shorter vertical extensions 11 and 12 as shown. Each of these parts 10, 11, and 12 form an integral inflatable part of the apparatus. Near the middle of the belt on the lower portion is a strap 13, one end of which is permanently attached to an eye 14 on the bottom of the belt below part 10. This strap carries an adjustable buckle or loop 15 that has two short chains 16, 17 provided. with snap hooks 18 and 19 respectively for engagement with loops 20 and 21 respectively.

in the loops 20, 21. The strap 13 is fastened with a certain amount of slack and its purpose is to prevent the apparatus rising over the wearers head when he lands in water. Under this condition the apparatus due to its buoyancy rises up a certain distance on the body, part 10 assuming a position back of the wearers neck. Parts 11 and 12 as sume a corresponding position in the front of the wearer bringing these shorter extensions close to themouth, providing a sufficient buoyancy high on the body so as to give a well balanced support to the body of the wearer and keep it in an upright POSI- tion without interfering with the movement of the arms. Part 10 projects upwardly to a greater extent than parts 11 and 12 and has the additional function of supporting the neck of the wearer at the bac thus preventing his head from submerging in cases where he may be pulled along the surface rapidly by a wind filled parachute. The canister 5 holding the chemical which absorbs carbon dioxide consists of a light metal box constructed so as to permit an easy flow of air from portion 1 to portion 2 and a high degree of purification of the exhaled a1r before being inhaled again.

This canister Fig. 2, is placed within the portion 1 above depression 7 and secured to the top of oneendof portion 1 by aclamping plate'22 and screws 23 passing through the plate, the-fabric of portion into t e imperforate top wal124 of the canister. The two side walls are also imperforate. Depending from the top 24 of the camster is an imperforate end wall 25 and the opposlte end wall 26 is provided with an outlet nozzle 6 that is the sole gas passage between the two portions 1 and 2.

Spaced from this wall 26 1s a second wall 27 extending upwardly beyond the 11118 of nozzle 6 nearly to the top 24 and also extending below the nozzle to form a trap 28. The bottom of the chamber between the walls 25 and 27- is formed by a screen 29 and a screen 30 extends from the top of wall 30 to the opposite'wall 25 forming a condult 31 extending across the top and down one end of the canister to the nozzle 6 and strap 28. The respired air purifying chemical is contained in the chamber between the upper and lower screens 31 and 29 and the imperforate walls 25 and 27. Chemical is supplied to this chamber through an opening closed by a screw plug 32, Fig. 1. Spaced from the vertical wall'25 and the bottom 29 of the chemical chamber is a screen 33 supported by and prevented from collapsing by metal spacing strips 34. The construction is such that'no air can pass from one compartment to the other without having first to pass through the chemical. The inhalation compartment 2 is provided with a s ring 34 preferably oval in section, one end of which'is soldered or otherwise secured to the side of the inhalation tube nipple 35and the other end soldered or hooked through a hole 36 to the chemical container nozzle 6. The purpose of this spring no matter what its shape is to keep the inhalation reservoir 2 from collapsing over the container nozzle 6 and inhalation nipple 35 and prevent interference with the proper flow of air. The depression 7 in the bottom of compartment 1 promotes the free flow of air through the canister by reason of not having a bellows wall on its bottom.

Compartment 1 is provided with an oxygen inlet 37 connected by a flexible tube 38 to the bottle 3 for oxygen or compressed air in a friction pocket, the bottle being provided with a suitable hand valve 39. The friction pocket is provided with a zipper closure 40 to facilitate the exchange of the bottle 3. Compartment 1 in the location shown is also provided with relief valve 41 designed to maintaina certain-excess pressure-within the entire apparatus over the pressure of the surrounding medium, irrespective of whether this medium is low or high altitude air pressure, or shallow or deep water pressure. The valve 4 on the inhalation chamber is for the connection to an extraneous source of respirable air such as can be obtained from the large oxygen flasks forming a part of high altitude resplratory apparatus carried in airplanes and other aircraft. Utilization of such extraneous source of air may become necessary in cases where occupants of fallen planes are submergedv beneath the water for prolon ed periods.

eprovide the usual oxygen tube leading from the oxygen flasks carried by the flying machine with a nozzle device 41- Fig. 4. havlng a bore 42 for the oxygen from the bottle, and a second parallel bore 43. A screw valve 44 controls a passage 45 between the two bores and determines the constant'flow of oxygen to the compartment 2. A second sprlng closed push valve 46 permits a temporary increase of the supply oxygen from bore 42 to bore 43.

The nozzle device is screwed to a head 47 containing a valve 48 provided with a rubber seat 49 held in'place by a tubular extension or guide apron 50. The valve structure 4 is the usual spring closed tire inflating valve externally threaded at 51 havinga stem 52 extending above or to the top of its casing. This valve casing is screwed at its lower end into a screw plug or thimble 53 that screws into a ring 54 secured to'the flexible wall of compartment 2 by a clamping ring 55 and screws 56. A look nut 57 holds the valve tight and ermits its adjustment into and out of the ag.

Seated on this washer is a loose ring 58 and above it a nut or a soft washer 59. Pivoted to ring 58 is a bail 60 carrying, a roller 6lrt'hat rides on a cam surface 62 on the head 47. This portion of the head ro'ects sufliciently far to the front of the ail to act as an abutment for the arms of the bail when in the position shown in Fig. 4 to prevent the head rotating too far without moving the bail with it and cause release of the bail. The head is pushed over the valve with the apron resting on 59. Valve 48 strikes the upperpnd of the tubular casing of valve 4, is o tied=:.thereby and at the same time valve"-"strilies the upper end of stem 52 andopens valve 4. Bail is swung over the cam surface 62 and latches the head in place, while permitting a swivelling action of the head with respect to the inhalation compartment 2. By this means the aviator is supplied with oxygen from .the supply in the air craft, through the compartment 2, and inhalation tube. By simply pushing the bail over the cam surface the connection is autonliatically released and both valves 4 and 48 c ose.

Parts 10, 11 and 12 are provided with metal 100 .64, 65, 66 and 67. Shoulder straps 68 an 69 are fastened to loops 64 and that respectively connect'with buckles 70 and 71 connected to 'the loops 66 and 67. These shoulder stra the weight 0 theapparatus, in such a way that there is no warping or distortion of the apparatus when worn nor interference with the movements of the arms of the wearer/ The position of the oxygen bottle 3 when the device is adjusted is under .the right arm at the waist line. The chemical container is in a similar position under the left arm. The inlet check valve 4 is near the front of the body to be readily accessible for connecting to an extraneous source of respira- The occupants of the aircraft, while pre-' paring themselves for flight and before entering the aircraft, adjust the apparatus on the body over the clothing. The parachute is then put on in the re ular manner, over the apparatus, hooking t e breast strap of the parachute in such a manner that the mouthieee and breathing tubes 63 and 73 of the reathing apparatus will be left free. The

are located so as to distribute The rubber mouthshut-off valve 74 is normally closed until the mouthpiece A is placed in the mouth. The exhalation compartment 1 of the apparatus contains a relief valve 41 which permits the reservoir to remain inflated at a pressure slightly in excess of the pressure of the surrounding medium irrespective of whether the medium is atmosphere at high or low altitudes or deep or shallow water. Normally, for' aircraft use, the apparatus is inflated through nozzle 41 from a compressed air or oxygen flask installed in the plane and forming a part of the resent type of altitude equipment. Norma l inflation of the apparatus makes it immediately available at all times for use as a life preserver without any additional adjustment.

Inflation in this respect is performed by the wearer after entering the aircraft and before taking off by connecting the valve 4 with the oxygen supply through nozzle 41. The apparatus is quickly inflated by momentarily pressing down upon the valve 46. In case of the aircraft crashing into the water the mouthpiece A of the ap aratus is placed by the wearer into his m out and the plug sto valve 44 is now adJusted. This valve 44 1s designedto permit regulable flow of oxygen to the apparatus from the oxygen flask in the plane, sufiicient to meet normal respiratory requirements or in other words the rate of flow is equivalent to the rate of oxygen absor tion by the body. In case it 1s necessary to a andon the plane by parachute, bail 60 is thrown over and the oxygen supply through the nozzle is cut-ofl, and the head 47 is at the same time pulled off of valve 4. If the craft sinks, after landingon the surface of the water, additional pressure will be required within the apparatus to equalize the increasing surrounding water pressures. Under such conditions compensating pressures within the apparatus may be obtained by opening valve 39 to increase the pressure.

Over inflation of the apparatus under any conditions, in either ascentor descent in water or at atmospheric pressure, or less than atmos heric, is prevented by the relief valve 41 WlllCh spills the excess pressure within the apparatus.

In cases of abandoning aircraft by parachute, persons de'scending'over water would not be immersed as the original inflation of the apparatus makes it a buoyant appliance which will support them on the surface of the water. In' cases'where they are submerged for a short distance on impact with the water the necessary inflation to meet the momentary increased water pressure is produced by turning on the valve 3 9 of the small oxygen flask 3.

For respiratory requirements at high altitudes, the apparatus is connected to the oxygen flask in the plane by means of the head and bail previously referred to and valve 44 opened. This same procedure would offer protection against toxic gases such as may be encountered by aviators in gas warfare.

We claim v 1. A life saving device comprising a body encircling inflatable reservoir having two inflatable compartments of different lengths, one of said compartments having an upward extension for supporting the body of the wearer upright a shorter upward extension at one end and the other compartment having a like shorter extension, said shorter extensions combining to balance tipping action of the longer extensions, an air purifying chamber forming a connection between the two compartments and a breathing tube connected to each compartment.

2. A life saving apparatus comprising a body encircling inflatable reservoir having two separated sections an air purifying device in one of said sections and connecting the interiors of said sections, an inhalation tube connected to one section and an exhalation tube connected to the other section.

3. In a life saving apparatus, an expansible and collapsible inhalation compartment, a chemical containing canister for purifying respired air connected to said compartment, an inhalation tube connected to said compartment and an open spiral between the canister and tube within the compartment to maintain breathing passage between the canister and tube under all conditions of operation.

4. In a life saving apparatus two compartments having bellows bottoms, an air purifying canister connecting the compartments and arranged in one of them, said compartment having a non-bellowsed portion at the bottom below the canister.

5. In a life saving apparatus having two compartments an air purifying canister in one compartment and connected to the other compartment, the latter compartment having a bellows bottom and the former compartment having its bottom depressed below the canister and the remaining portion of its bottom bellowsed. r

6. In a life saving apparatus, two.collapsible compartments, an air purifying canis; ter in one compartment and having a discharge neck connecting the. compartments,

means in the canister for purifying air and a trap below and adjacent to said neck to receive chemical dust from the stream of purified'air passing to the neck.

exhalation compartment, a canister therein having a discharge neck, an inhalation compartment connected to said neck and a flexible web between the compartments connecting them together.

8. A life saving-apparatus comprising an inflatable compartment having an upward extension near one end and a shorter upward compartment at the other, a canister in the compartment at the end opposite the shorter extension, a second inflatable compartment connected to the canister, means for fastening the free ends of the two shorter extensions together in front of the wearer, an oxygen bottle detachably connected to the first compartment, said bottle arranged to be located under one arm of the wearer and the canister arranged to be positioned under the other arm, shoulder straps between longer and shorter extensions, a holding down strap at the bottom of the apparatus.

9. In a life saving apparatus, a flexible exhalation compartment, 3. canister therein having a discharge neck, an inhalation compartment connected to-said neck, means insuring a breathing passage to and from saidcanister and means for supplying an operator with respirable atmosphere from the apparatus.

10. In a life saving apparatus, two compartments having bellows bottoms, an air purifying canister in one compartment connecting the compartments, a non-bellowsed bottom below said canister and means 'for equalizing the internal pressure in the a paratus to correspond to the pressure 0 the surrounding medium.

11. In a life saving apparatus, two collapsible individual sections, an air' purifying canister in one of said sections having a neck connecting the sections, and means adapted to prevent the collapsible sections from obstructing the operation of said canister in purifying air for an operator.

12. A life saving apparatus comprising an inflatable reservoir having, two separated compartments, an air purifying device in one of said compartments and connecting the interiors of said compartments, an inhalation tube connected to one compartment, and an exhalation tube connected to the other compartment.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention, we have signed our names.

CLARENCE LOUIS TIBBALS. FRANK MILLARD' HOBSON. 

